Usamah Harvey
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Loui Blair
It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
Walter Sloane
Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
fnorful
Almost a documentary, this is a very well made biography of director Ann Marie Fleming's great grand-father. As a view into a period it enlightens so many disparate historical events; it seems Sam was an global perambulator, sometimes skirting and sometimes being involved in many geopolitical happenings, but always in pursuit of his work and his loves.The format mix of film, interviews, comic book cutouts and animation holds interest over the hour and a half of run time. We get a strong sense of who this man was, and are only left to wonder why we didn't know more about him already.
GmalkinSr
This is a qualified 10 out of 10 as the first hour or so of this documentary is great, the last half hour and/or the 90 minute total length started to put me too sleep. I mainly gave it a 10 because I was amazed at the techniques used in this film, fantastic animation, music, great sense of humor, editing and these are things I don't usually notice in a movie. The filmmaker must have had a huge budget to make this film. I hope some day she does a TV series as she is truly an innovator.I thought the first hour was magical. The filmmaker is an excellent narrator & her narration was great. But after about an hour or so, I started to fall asleep, I think the film maker has the potential to be another "Orson Welles" if she learns pacing and that more is not necessarily better and figures out that an hour of stimulation beats an hour of stimulation & a half hour of boredom.
armeyle
This film is one hell of a sumptuous visual feast. The animated photographs are wondrous, seeming to bring Long Tack Sam and kin back to life. The multiple "origin" comics are lush with color. Both merge seamlessly with candid interviews and found(?) footage. I cannot rhapsodize enough about the aesthetics and style. Kudos to Ann Marie Fleming for this biographical masterpiece on her great-grandfather.The storyline is equally compelling. The scenic shifts from place to place, country to country, allow Fleming to uncover new facts about the acrobat/ magician's life, and cleverly parallel Sam's own perigrinations. Globetrotters, par excellance, the travels of Sam and Fleming provide effective narrative ballast, and in particular, Fleming's adept narration carefully focuses our attention, so that we feel privy to the historical events Sam lived through during the early and mid 20th century.The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam is in every sense a celebration of an almost forgotten man, who perhaps until now, never got his proper due. And it pays homage not just to the remarkable Sam, but to other members of his family as well (especially his daughter Mina, Fleming's grandmother). With its grea t style and storytelling, this is a film to be seen again and again.
drdancm-2
In total contrast to the opinion of, Igetheheat, who might be more appropriately named, Philistine, this is a gem of a documentary, that works well on many levels, as you can clearly see from the scores that other viewers have given this film.First of all it is an interesting story of international romance and history, thoroughly engaging to anyone with a sense of wonder. The film has great charm which is enhanced by the incredible animation of characters in old still photos, as well as some wonderful, delightfully original animation.Second, the story unfolds, from the point of view of the great granddaughter (Ann Marie Fleming, the filmmaker)as she tracks down the story of the great Long Tack Sam. He is an incredible person, courageous (to runaway to join the Circus and leave his home), ambitious, and obviously very talented (acrobat, and magician).Third, it brings to focus, an era of vaudeville entertainment, that is no longer with us, so that we can only get a glimpse of what this was like from recreations and documentaries like this. It does this very well with still pictures, animations and interviews with people who remember the past.You can enjoy this work on many levels because it, for me at least, it succeeds at every level. Bravo!!PS Added June 2006For those that enjoyed this movie, you might also enjoy Donna Schatz's documentary "Balancing Acts", which is making the rounds of Public TV in 2006.
